What role did Martin Luther King Jr. play in helping the rights of Black Americans?

Martin Luther King led the Civil Rights movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until he was assassinated in 1968. King was involved in helping to orchestrate the Montgomery Bus Boycott. He was elected to lead the boycott because he was fresh and skilful at commanding an audience. The boycott led to 382 days of avoiding the buses. In 1957, King, along with other associates, founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to organise black churches. After 1960, King publicly encouraged students to use non-violent methods during the ‘sit-in’ protests. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was formed put of this. in 1963, during the Birmingham, Alabama protests, King was arrested and jailed, and it was here he wrote out his theory of non-violence. After this, plans were made for a massive demonstration in Washington, where he delivered his ‘I have a dream’ speech. By 1968, the years of protesting were wearing thin on King. In the same year, whilst stood on a balcony of a Motel, King was shot and killed by James Earl Ray. The killing sparked riots and protests across the country. This made way for the emergence of Black Power.